Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or his fuzzy ears.
"You no longer stink of ningen. Though your intellect has not improved. Miko, you interfere in matters beyond your comprehension."
Not knowing which insult to reply to first, Kagome opened and closed her mouth in rising annoyance.
"I realize that I have trespassed onto your lands and for that I am truly apologetic. Beyond that, my affairs are my own and do not interfere with anyone else's."
"You killed inu-youkai acting under my command."
"Yukinaga. He told you the truth?"
"The council believes his story, that he defeated the twin inu-youkai in battle. This Sesshomaru does not."
"Why not? Yukinaga seems capable."
"The twins I trained myself. They would not succumb to youkai attacks, especially from a cat."
They were not able to defend against her purifying powers, Kagome thought in recollection.
"I could kill you now for your impudence."
Oh could you? Kagome thought rebelliously.
"I did not realise my actions would have such repercussions. Forgive me, Sesshomaru-sama." Her apology was sincere, feeling guilty for meddling in his affairs and killing two of his men.
So fast that Kagome did not see him move, Sesshomaru was now inches in front of her face, his index finger touching the tip of chin and forcing her to look deep into his amber eyes.
"Your apology is unnecessary, miko. You will undo the damage your ignorance has caused."
Kagome shivered and stood motionless as she felt a single drop of his poison gather at his fingertip.
"Yukinaga returns home with you in a fortnight. Gather information about his clan. His son, especially. I need to know their plans."
Suppressing a whimper, Kagome nodded as she felt the droplet of sizzling poison slide down her throat, making a scorched trail into the hollow between her breasts.
He released her. Kagome's debilitating fear receded and anger replaced it just as quickly, causing her to raise her arm, claws recklessly poised to strike him.
Sesshomaru caught her wrist in an iron-grip and squeezed, this time drawing blood with his claws.
"Do you understand, miko?"
"Yes." The pain in her arm was unbearable as his poison dripped down.
He let her go and turned to leave. The movement swung his hair sideways and Kagome glimpsed the front of his kimono.
A finger-painting. The bright pinks and blues outlined a goofy looking Sesshomaru sporting a comically wide grin, revealing fangs as exaggerated and pointy as his ears. An equally joyful looking little girl stood at his side with a ponytail set awkwardly askew on the side of her head. They were holding hands.
She would ordinarily have found the caricatures hilarious. But she had just been tortured by an inu-youkai who was adorned with said painting. Cradling her slowly healing arm, the pain ebbing, Kagome stared in a strange mix of helpless rage and confusion at Sesshomaru's retreating form.
It was such an obvious work of childish love that it brought frustrated tears to Kagome's eyes.
How could one so cruel be sentimental?
Rin. Would you love a monster?
"Oh, Lady Kagome, do not cry! Sesshomaru-sama is cruel sometimes, yes. But his actions are just. Here, let me make you feel better."
Kagome vaguely heard high-pitched, annoying chatter near her shoulder. Then a pinch as something tried to draw her blood.
"Myouga." She said in a strained voice to the now flattened flea resting on her palm. So he did accompany his lord to the Gathering.
"Sorry. It was a reflex. I didn't mean to squash you."
"No, no. Quite all right. I'm used to this treatment from many generations of inu-youkai. Except Inutaisho. He and Izayoi both treated me with respect. How is Inuyasha by the way?"
"He's fine." Safe. "You knew Izayoi?" Kagome forgot about her own troubles at this startling mention of Inuyasha's mother, a woman of whom she knew so little.
"Oh, yes. Quite well. You see, back in those days, I was the Inutaisho's personal retainer as well as chief advisor. He and I were inseparable."
"Then you know how they met?"
"Why of course. I was there, resting within the Inutaisho's robes."
More like eavesdropping. Kagome was unable to contain her rising excitement. She could learn about Inuyasha's parents and tell him herself.
"Why did you never tell Inuyasha?"
"He never asked. I suspect the subject is still too painful for him. Understandable. But enough about the past, Kagome. I need to warn you about the future. You have merged with the Shikon no Tama, correct?"
"How did you know?"
"Because it has happened once before. Not many know the complete story surrounding the jewel. Midoriko originally created it to seal the energy of those she could not purify. Have you heard of the Ancients, Lady Kagome?"
Not waiting for her answer, Myouga continued, "The prototypal being. Very powerful, and very little is known about them at all. It is said that they are neither human nor youkai. 'Their eyes glowed as if burning from within.' There are records describing the havoc that they created in Midoriko's time before the Shikon no Tama. But it was not enough, so Midoriko sacrificed her life, merging with it, to continue the battle against the youkai forces in the jewel itself. You see, Kagome, the Ancients have the power to choose. I believe they are the oldest beings, before we differentiated in the evolutionary tree. The root, the source."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Kagome asked in slight trepidation.
Myouga seemed to get even more excited, waving both sets of his arms in agitation.
"Sesshomaru saw you change, Kagome. It's your eyes, you see. He said that they glowed blue, completely pupil-less. He did not understand it at the time, but as soon as I heard, I knew. You have the power to choose. As the Ancients do."
Dramatically, he paused. "You are a living Ancient, Kagome-sama."
Kagome, stunned, began to laugh hysterically.
Oblivious, Myouga continued his explanation.
"Somehow, the Shikon no Tama transformed you."
"You're serious, Myouga. Are you sure you haven't been squashed too many times?"
"Of course! I mean I am serious! I believe it to be the truth." Myouga said, looking affronted.
"If I can truly choose, then I want to be human again." Kagome said without hesitation.
"It doesn't work that way. The Ancients are a distinct race. As much as they may seem human or youkai, they are never truly one or the other."
"So there is no way to reverse this?"
"No, but why would you wish to? You are a wonderful phenomenon! Think of what good you could do as a liaison between both races. You have a destiny, Kagome. Do not flee from it, embrace it."
"But I cannot control it."
"Every youkai child must learn self-control early on. Their youkai nature can never be allowed to dominate their mind. It is the same with you, Kagome. You simply need training."
Utterly overwhelmed, Kagome whispered, "I can't do this." I can't even handle being human.
"That is why Sesshomaru has sent you on this task, Kagome. To test you. To see if you are truly what you seem. I will accompany you and provide your training myself. By the time we reach Yukinaga's lands, we will be ready to infiltrate his clan!" A look of unadulterated anticipation gleamed on his miniature face.
Infiltrate? She imagined the little flea dressed in a black ninja costume, a tiny kerchief covering his mouth and a knife in each of his four hands, tip-toeing stealthily through Yukinaga's mane.
Feeling slightly psychotic that she was even considering such a wild scheme, Kagome said, "You realise that I haven't yet agreed to this elaborate plan of yours."
Suddenly serious, Myouga replied, "Kagome. You need me. You said so yourself that you could not control your powers. Besides, I am a great travelling companion and an accomplished storyteller. Didn't you say that you wished to know of the Inutaisho and Lady Izayoi's first meeting?"
Hesitantly, she asked, "Can you really teach me to control my powers?"
"I would not say it if I didn't. I may be a flea and cowardly in battle, but I am no liar. I did not get to be Inutaisho's advisor by good fortune and live so long to tell the tale."
"Tell me now. The tale of Inuyasha's parents."
"So you have agreed?" Myouga asked in excitement.
"That depends on whether your storytelling is as good as you claim."
"Ah, your lack of faith pains this old flea." Myouga crossed his bottom legs, sitting down and seemed deep in thought.
"All right. You might want to get comfortable, Lady Kagome. This may take a while."
La la la. I get to write about Inutaisho and Izayoi...weeeeee!
What do you think about a little interlude to tell their tale? Too abrupt a transition?A love story within a love story? Mmmm?
Myouga...ah that lovable little flea. He is just too cute! Not OOC?
princess of the western lands: Ack! My little brain is going to explode from trying to put answer all your questions in this chapter. Hope that a little bit is explained to satisfaction. Yukinaga is not as he seems --- cue mysterious background music --- and yes I want to finger paint on Sesshomaru's gloriously bare body. Damn you, Rin!
mangadreams: Yes, I was a bit hesitant to write the finger-painting scene as well, but I just couldn't give up on the idea. Alas, he must be OOC sometimes if he is to be funny. --sigh--
Till next time!
